As rivers rise, even more rain is on the way

UPDATED: 7 a.m. Friday: If the fish are swimming in the street, it’s more than a little damp.

In Alma, two intersections were closed Thursday due to flooded areas: Downie and River streets and at Ely and Riverview, said Alma City Manager Phil Moore.

The fish were swimming at Ely and Riverview.

By mid afternoon Thursday, the Pine River was high and rising, Moore said.

The river had reached a stage of 9.4 feet, well above its 8-foot flood stage, Friday morning. National Weather Service forecasters issued a flood warning, and predicted a crest of 10 feet Friday afternoon.

Hydrologists at the weather service’s Grand Rapids office don’t expect the Pine to drop below flood stage until early Monday. The Grand Rapids office issues forecasts, advisories and warning for most of western and central Michigan, including Clare, Gratiot, Isabella, Montcalm and Mecosta counties.

Moore said the excess water will continue to hit the sewers and the city will treat more rainwater in its water treatment plant.

One of the lift stations that had recently been repaired is able to handle the excess water, Moore said. The bridges are OK.

Public Works Director Ron Turner said if the rain continues, State Street at Ely Highway would likely be the next area that will close.

“The areas will grow,” he said.

While the river is rising in St. Louis, there are no street closures, said Kurt Giles, the city’s public services director.

Elsewhere in the county, “We are wet,” said Gratiot County Drain Commissioner Brian Denman.

“We’ve had 4 inches of rain in the last 24 to 48 hours,” he said. “The ground is saturated. There’s a tremendous amount of runoff. The drains are not designed for this kind of rain.”

At Mt. Pleasant, the Chippewa River moved past flood stage about noon Thursday. The river was flowing just above flood stage Friday morning, and forecasters expected it to drop below its 8-foot flood stage early Saturday afternoon.

At Midland, the Tittabawassee rolled past its 24-foot flood stage Thursday morning. Friday morning, it was more than 2 feet above flood stage but expected to crest at about that point. The Pine and Chippewa both flow into the Tittabawassee at Midland, and the larger river was expected to drop below flood stage late Saturday night.

If the rain turns to ice as has been predicted, it would be good news for Denman.

‘It will slow the water down,” he said.

Ransom Road south of Wilson has been closed.

Alma city offices have received complaints from residents about water in their basements, which, for the most part, are coming through the walls, Moore said.

His advice is to keep an eye on the basements and he’s asking residents to stay away from the river’s edge.

“That’s moving swiftly and it’s too dangerous,” he said.

Linda Gittleman may be reached at 989-463-6071, lgittleman@michigannewspapers.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lgittleman.